Max Talent Player

Chapter 97

What kind of bet?

Byeon Gilsup tilted his neck, probably wondering what kind of nonsense I was spouting all of a sudden.

I will not move from this spot.

...What?

The first strike, I wont defend against it at all.

What do you mean?

Im sure you know where the vital points of humans are. Try attacking one of those points with all your strength. Of course, I wont dodge.

Gilsups expression hardened. He was likely thinking that I was underestimating him right now.

Will I truly be able to take that hit without dodging, or will I die?

Just what in the world are you saying?

Exactly as it sounds. I am certain that I will be able to take that attack without any damage. I provoked him a little more. The reason why I requested a private PVP today was to show everyone here a new world.

I wanted to show these frogs in a well that the sky was far bigger than the well-sized piece theyd been staring up at all this time.

I will defeat you with an overwhelming difference in skill. To convince everyone in Taeguk Shield.

The spear Gilsup was holding quivered.

How about it, Mr. Byeon Gilsup? An attack with every ounce of your strength. Would you like to try? I swear that I am not a tank. Lets bet on whether someone who isnt a tank like me can take such an attack without any damage or not.

Sure enough

[The Lady of the Scales advises against unnecessary provocation.]

[The Nameless Observer observes.]

[The Courageous Lion King is frustrated.]

[The Whispering Devil claps his hands with glee.]

[The Herdsman of Las Vegas is very interested.]

Gilsup raised his spear. Fine, he gritted, grinding his teeth. That high and mighty confidence of yours, lets see how long it can last.

It looked like he was pretty pissed off. Well, he was a Player with a lot of pride, so he was probably even more galled. Who would have thought that a non-combat class Player who wasnt even a tank, but a sovereign, would ever be treated with such scorn?

I cant say for certain, but

There was a high chance the Herdsman of Las Vegas made some kind of proposal to Gilsup. If he accepted my bet, he might have a chance at a big reward.

Which is why he accepted without hesitation.

All the Taeguk Shield guild members were staring at me in bafflement, except for just one of them, Cheon Sooji. That made me sweat a bitwas Mirror Sight too effective? There was slight but unmistakable interest in her gaze.

Whatever, itll probably fade soon.

Ill make you regret it within one minute, said Gilsup.

Our PVP match began.

* * *

Byeon Gilsup raised the main weapon hed enjoyed using lately, Noxs Spear. It had an attack power of around 35.

He was sure of it.

Excluding powerful blunt weapons, it has the highest damage.

Blunt weapons could deal a heavy, powerful blow, but they were much harder to swing. To use them, you had to sacrifice a lot of dexterity. But Gilsups weapon was different.

I believe in you, Noxs Spear.

He finished all his preparations to penetrate the heart of the rookie who had arrogantly claimed he would show them all a different sky.

Ill stab through.

He drew back his arm, leveling his spear so it was parallel to the ground. A single-point stab. When his speartip reached the target point, he would increase the rotational force.

You will definitely regret this.

He loaded the balls of his feet with far more strength than usual. That was so he could deliver a stab with all his weight behind it. You couldnt use such an exaggerated movement in a real battle, since there would be too much danger of counterattack if you threw all your weight into one attack like this.

Ill stab his heart.

Song Kiyeol observed Gilsup in silence. He, of course, did not doubt Gilsups powerful stab.

His target seems to be the heart.

The heart was a big weak point for humans. And yet, Hyukjin was allowing an undefended attack on such a vulnerable spot. Did sovereign Players have some kind defense skill?

Here I come!

Gilsups spear surged forward in a horizontal line with all his weight behind it, looking like he was one with the spear. The point of his spear rushed in unwaveringly, aiming precisely for a single spot.

Hyukjin wasnt all that shaken by it.

Its coming.

There was a very brief moment during which he read Gilsups movement. This was the strongest single attack Gilsup was capable of, his strongest stab. He saw how Gilsups body moved to create the stab, how the mana in his body flowed.

Thud!

Something hit his heart.

[The Great Orc Warriors partial set effect is activating.]

[All damage has been nullified.]

The strike that should have gone through his heart felt like a kids weak fist hitting his chest. Actually, it couldnt even really be called an impact, since it was as weak as the kind of drumming you did when your chest felt stuffy.

Huh?

Gilsup made an expression of disbelief.

There was zero damage?

Hyukjin grinned. Are you sure that was your strongest attack?

Song Kiyeol was just as flabbergasted. He did think that Hyukjin had something up his sleeve, but he never thought Hyukjin would be able to shrug off Gilsups attack with absolutely zero damage.

What in the worldwas that?

Just then, Han Seokmin said, Its the power of items.

Hyukjin nodded. He hadnt intended on keeping it a secret anyway, and he knew that Taeguk Shield had Han Seokmin. He had seen a glimpse of Han Seokmins ability in action in the Hill of Blowing Wind. This man, who would one day become famous as the Analyst, wouldnt find it difficult to figure out this much.

Seeing as he concluded that its the power of items instead of its probably the power of items, hes pretty skilled.

The Analyst Han Seokmin. He might be second best now, but he would be a big help later on. Plus, he would be a pretty good match with Hyukjin, an Observer.

Song Kiyeol still had a look of disbelief on his face. No matter how good the item was, how could it completely nullify Gilsups attack? It was mind-boggling. No item he could think of was capable of that. That mystery item Hyukjin possessed had completely blocked an attack from a determined spearman aiming at a vital point. Wasnt that essentially like giving you a second life?

Hyukjin explained. Being overgeared is also a skill.

Since he had decided to show them the broad sky above, he elaborated in slightly greater detail. Simply subduing Byeon Gilsup was meaningless.

A set effect that completely blocks any attack from under level 35 kicked in.

...Theres an effect like that?

Do you think President Song was blinded by new tech for no reason? Think he didnt expect an effect like this? Hyukjin continued to talk to Kiyeol, completely ignoring the spearman he was in a PVP with. Do not underestimate new tech too much.

Since he was doing this, he wanted to raise them well.

Because Taeguk Shield may just become the cornerstone business of Sungshin.

That was enough to drive in his point. Song Kiyeol had seen the power of new tech for himself. Having a vague estimation of somethings power was worlds apart from seeing it in action.

Kiyeol felt goosebumps rise on his arms. Mr. Kim Hyukjin isnt PVPing right now he thought numbly.

This wasnt a PVP. It was alecture, onegiven to him and the guild members Taeguk Shield while everyone was gathered in one spot.

Hes educating us.

It stung his pride, but Kiyeol would take what was offered. The business that could give him a definite edge in the competition with his little sister was the new tech business. The attack just now had engraved that lesson in his bones.

Hyukjin smiled.

Summary: Guildmaster who Met his Teacher

Song Kiyeol seemed to finally have the right mindset. Only once he was satisfied with his progress on the Guildmaster did Hyukjin turn his gaze back to Byeon Gilsup. The spearman looked like he had suffered quite the shock.

There is a wide range of item effects. The effect and worth of items will completely change based on how you distribute and use them.

...

Gilsup regripped his spear.

Ive lost the bet, but I havent lost the PVP yet.

Thats true. Hyukjin tossed him a little hope. The absolute defense ability I just used can only be used once per day.

Before he regressed, the set effect of the Great Orc Warrior set was simply a natural part of everyday life, something so well-known that there were all sorts of strategies that hinged on it. There was no need to bend over backwards to keep it a secret, so he used it to teach a lesson instead.

The Players need to get their act together.

Thanks to Hyukjin, the difficulty of the Korean server was noticeably reduced, and as a result, the Players were quite a bit weaker than they were in the past. He judged that a little education was necessary in order to strengthen what was weakened.

If Taeguk Shield changes first, becoming more proactive after realizing the worth of new tech for themselves, it will definitely influence the other Players to do the same.

This wasnt just a PVP, but a stroke in the big picture. The Guardians who were watching all this from one step away scrambled to send messages.

[The Lady of the Scales is awed by your unbiased view.]

[The Barrier of Blue Light keenly understands your feelings.]

The justice-aligned Lady and defense-attribute Barrier Guardians actively endorsed him,

[The Courageous Lion King is bored.]

the courage-lover was bored,

[The Whispering Devil snorts at your scheme.]

and the Whispering Devil wasnt very amused by his Playing.

[The Nameless Observer continues to observe.]

The Nameless Observer seemed to always be among the five Guardians who sent messages. As usual, they were maintaining their neutral position.

In any case, Ive sufficiently shown the Guardians the picture Im going for, too.

That meant it was time to wrap up the PVP.

Lets return to the PVP, said Hyukjin. Then, he pulled out Yeonseos sword, the item of a grade he hadnt even been sure had existed.

This time, I will use a sword.

* * *

* * *

The movements of the future Spear Demon Byeon Gilsup were fast. He appeared to be stepping straight forward, but suddenly swerved right and left as he aimed for Hyukjins side.

Hiya!

He made it seem like he was going for the side, but his spear whipped upwards without any warning and came down like a guillotine.

Whumpf!

His spear shaft came hurtling down towards the crown of Hyukjins head.

Hyukjin had completely read Gilsups movements. He nudged the spear shaft away with his palm, twisting.

It was difficult to block a vertical strike from the bottom. At worst, the impact could even fracture his wrist. Instead of opting for a reckless head-on match of strength, Hyukjin slipped away to the side.

I can see the opening.

If he immediately rushed in and swung his sword, he could easily subdue Gilsup. However, he didnt do so.

What a strange feeling.

It was similar to what he had experienced when fighting Kim Taechun, an opponent far weaker than himself; a similar feeling to when hed gotten Eye of Perceptions special power, Future Sight. A strange feeling, like he could see something.

No, I can actually see it more clearly than that.

The King of Swords Asura was showing him the sword path, and unbeknownst to Hyukjin, he was being drawn into it.

Hyukjin, who had never learned swordsmanship, began to learn.